Missing Royal is YA Fantasy and Only Half Alive is YA Paranormal. Almost all of my other books are YA Fantasy.

What draws you to this genre?

I started writing as a young adult and it’s the kind of books I like to read. I love the extra escape fantasy provides and thus, it has always been my favorite genre.

When did you decide to become a writer?

Honestly? I didn’t. I was invited to a writers group by a friend when I was thirteen. I actually declined but my friend took matters into her own hands. She contacted the woman who was putting the group together and told her I needed to be there. So that woman (Karen) contacted my mother who in turn, arranged for me to go.

Up until that point, I wasn’t a writer. But after the first meeting, I knew I had found my calling in life.

Do you aim for a set amount of words/pages per day?

Nope! I kinda have a rule against it. I used to but found that it actually stresses me out – especially if I don’t make that day’s goal. So now I just sit down and write until the muse tells me it has to stop for the night. I don’t push it. And I can honestly say I write more daily when I’m not stressing about how many words I need to write or have written.

What is the hardest thing about writing?

Editing afterwards. No joke, just thinking about it stresses me out!

What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?

Letting it go. It may sound silly but Missing Royal is my first book. This is the story that I started with. This book has changed in so many ways over the course of all eight years I’ve been writing it. It’s stressing me out knowing in just a couple months it will be completed in full. No more changing it, no more improving it. I have one last chance to get it right before it publishes and is out for all the world to read.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

Funny enough, it really depends on the story. The first book I ever wrote (Missing Royal) has taken me eight years to write and complete. This year I am finally writing one last draft and publishing it! (Coming March 25th 2014).

My publishing debut, Only Half Alive, was written in thirteen days start to finish. In between the two I’ve written novels anywhere between a month to eighteen days to fifteen days.

Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block?

Yes! First, you can’t think of it as writers block. Think of it more in terms of character block. Your characters are blocking you from going any further in the story because somewhere you’ve messed up and the story is going in the wrong direction.

Without fail, this has been true every single time I’ve had writers character block. How do you get past it? Read what you’ve written, think of where things could have taken a different turn. Interview your characters and see why going down a different path makes the story better.

How do you relax?

Most definitely writing and reading! Of course, I also love a great movie. 🙂

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Don’t worry what others think. Believe in yourself and so will others. Smile more and don’t stress the small things. Stop to smell the roses (trust me, it will come in handy when you need to describe what they smell like in a book), be a little spontaneous, not everything needs to be planned ahead of time. Be a little more patient, always be understanding, a smile can go a long way. Last but not least, allow others to tell you their opinions, but never allow anyone to make you believe that your dreams can’t come true.

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